Countdown to the NY Sheep and Wool Show!!

Known simply as Rhinebeck, the New York State Sheep and Wool Show attracts thousands of fiber aficionados from all over. People flock to the Duchess County Fairgrounds not just from all over New York State or the Greater New York Area, or even the entire Northeast. I have heard of fiberistas from all over the world planning their vacations to coincide with Rhinebeck.

Why is it such a popular festival? I think there are as many answer as there are people. First of all is the shopping. There will be over 250 Vendors. Take a minute and think about that. Over 250 yarn and fiber vendors in one place. I don’t know about you, but my mind actually boggles.

Baby, I’m right there with ya! I look forward to Rhinebeck all the year ’round. I actually have acquaintances and family who say things like ‘oh, I heard about this festival and I thought of you. Did you know/are you going?’. It makes me laugh because my response is usually something like, “Ummm yeah, that’s the show you hear me talking about all year. The one with over 10,000 visitors on Saturday alone? Yeah, that one.”

One way I put it into perspective for people that aren’t part of the fiber community is this: Among the online fiber community, I can mention the name ‘Rhinebeck’ to a knitter or spinner from Sweden… and not only do they probably know what I’m talking about, but they’re jealous when I say I only live 30 minutes away.

Don’t forget the Leaping Lama (one ‘L’ because there are alpacas too) contest on Sunday! My daughter and I can’t wait to go. Weather says chilly, don’t know about you, but cold makes me BUY even MORE roving and yarn, etc. As long as I don’t buy a sheep too….
If you visit the llama barn, say hi to my daughter and I (Wunsapana Farm)….we don’t sell anything, but it’s our favorite festival!

Hooray for Rhinebeck! I’m so excited! I never go with a “plan” to purchase anything specific. I spend most of the morning walking around sticking my hands in all the wonderful fiber! It’s usually not until after lunch that I start buying.

Of course, my festival trip is never complete without a visit to the food and wine vendors too. I support NYS agriculture as much as possible and one of the coolest crops we’ve got here is grapes. So naturally, I’m a BIG fan of NYS wines and buy them pretty much exclusively.

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